A Woman on a Mission with Sanita Lewis of West Side United

Sanita Lewis, the current Director of Anchor Mission for West Side United, oversees all workforce and small business development initiatives. Sanita is a data-driven, experienced, passionate mentor and professional in the industry. JT was honored to explore Sanita's journey at West Side United and as a female leader. 

JENSEN: What are the issues on the West Side that inspire WSU and its mission?

SANITA: One of the most significant challenges on Chicago's West Side continues to be the economic vitality of its residents. It’s not that jobs aren't available or people aren't seeking work - it's the obstacles we can’t always see: education level, lack of access to transportation, and even low self-confidence. Coming into this space, I didn’t recognize how deep these issues went. I understood that, yes, people needed jobs, daycare support, access to transportation, etc., but after spending more time and getting to know the root causes of these issues, I realized that these people also need to feel confident in themselves and their abilities to do the job. We are building up a culture of “job ready” folks and starting at the base level to try and understand the trauma many people in these communities have faced, and how we can provide the resources and support to build them up and take advantage of the opportunities available when they feel ready.  

JENSEN: How has your experience at WSU shaped your career and how do you think WSU has benefited from having women leaders like yourself?  

SANITA: My experience at West Side United has broadened my understanding of systems - both within our organization as well as  political systems. In learning to understand politics, I tend to keep to myself and maintain my thoughts and opinions. I don’t want the abundance of politics to sway my beliefs. However, I do find it important to understand others’ perspectives to navigate and be a good partner. This role has expanded my understanding in that space and has allowed me to grow and engage with individuals who have very strong views and deeply-rooted lived experiences. Being able to apply their shared experiences to the work that I do without judgment is critical. It’s been a muscle I have greatly exercised at West Side United. I do this job because I believe in the work and want to help people. It can be very challenging and draining work at times, but we are changing lives and setting a new standard for what is expected of communities

JENSEN: What is your advice to young girls who hope to be in a leadership position one day?

SANITA: As simple as it sounds, my advice is to just go out there and try your very best. There are countless opportunities in this world where you can learn the things you feel like you are lacking, but the reality of most situations is that the most significant thing lacking in many young women is confidence. The difference between being confident and being humble is often blurred. There is nothing wrong with being confident in yourself and your ability to do something. It’s vital to focus on building yourself up in today's world. The more you exude confidence, the more others gravitate toward you and opportunities come your way..The world awaits you, take the first step and put yourself out there! Be confident in YOU!

JENSEN: What is your advice to people on the West Side who are trying to positively impact their community? 

SANITA: Keep pushing forward and be open to change. I know change can be hard and new things can feel scary, but change is inevitable and I encourage people to be a part of it, be an ambassador, or be the driver of it. If you're afraid of change, then be in control of it the best you can. Don’t be a bystander because I believe that’s when things tend to feel the most scary. Be a loud voice in what you want to see, support small businesses, go to community meetings and meet your neighbors so you can begin to influence the changes you wish to see. The community needs to work together. Let's share resources and information and encourage youth to be active and share the importance of this type of work. 

JENSEN: How has your background in business analytics helped you in your transition to working for a nonprofit? 

SANITA: My background in business analytics has helped my career at West Side United by allowing me to look at a situation through an objective lens and listen. A lot of business analytics is looking at the data and listening. I tend to be very data-focused on the approaches I take. While this is very emotional work, my decisions are not not emotionally driven - they are baked on the data, facts and feedback from community members. We also look to see if there are gaps between data and personal experiences we hear from individuals. We take this information and build our strategies around it.  

JENSEN: How does the intersection of different community organizations (Nonprofits, faith organizations, businesses, hospital partners) positively affect the health and economic vitality on the Westside? 

SANITA: I often refer to our community as an ecosystem. For example, even if you aren't directly tied to a faith-based organization, they tend to have deep connections to the community, so they are already part of that ecosystem. The same goes for many community-based organizations. There's a type of deep-rooted system and the benefit of this is to emphasize that connected tissue and what it looks like. Often, there's a disconnect and at the root of West Side United, we are making these community connections evident. Everyone is doing such powerful work but we aren't all working together to expand as one. The ecosystem as a whole will move barriers, require everyone, and no one organization or group will be able to do it all on their own. We need community. 

JENSEN: What role can the investment in businesses play in WSU’s mission of eradicating the life expectancy gap between West Side residents and other Chicagoans? 

SANITA: The more investment in businesses, the more we can invest in the community. I believe we need to do a better job of showing what the real return-on-investment is beyond revenue. When you look past the revenue, there's a person. I urge people to learn and understand that person, their story, and how investments can better themself and their family. Our focus should be on tracking impact - not just the dollars. Small businesses are the heartbeat of any community, and when you invest in those small businesses, you're investing in the community as a whole.